To keep existing metals in circulation and maintain reasonable commodity prices on the market, we must recycle our metals for future use. Virtually every metal is reusable, but some, as you may expect, are more valuable than others. Nonferrous metals—metals that don’t contain iron or iron alloys—provide the most value. Among these prized metals is copper, which is not only in our pennies (don’t recycle those) but in scores of industrial and domestic applications. Looking to cash in? Here’s where you’ll find scrap copper for recycling.
In Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Adding zinc to elemental copper supplements both its strength and its ductility—its ability to be formed into wire. Though elemental copper wire finds a multitude of uses, brass wire is useful at small scales for the manufacturing of electronics. You may find this tiny brass wiring in disused electronic components, or you can opt for bigger brass throughout buildings by examining old fixtures and fittings in HVAC and plumbing systems. Old brass doorknobs are great candidates for recycling.
In Bronze
Much like brass, bronze is a copper alloy. This formulation, however, is one of copper and tin. Both metals are valuable separately in the market, but together, they have high value in bronze form. As with brass, you can find bronze in many piping and plumbing fixtures. If you’re involved in a renovation or demolition, you can likely find bronze to harvest. While you can’t sell brass or bronze as copper per se, the meltdown process will put existing copper back into play and reduce the need for virgin copper production. Outside the external motivation of cash in pocket, the move toward sustainability is one of the best reasons to recycle metal.
Wiring
One of the most likely locations where you’ll find scrap copper for recycling is in wire. Copper’s high ductility and conductivity make it a natural choice for telephone wire and other electronics. Once recyclers compile copper wire, they send it to a wire granulator, which prepares it for further processing. Televisions and appliances often contain copper wiring, so if you come across these as you’re dismantling, see if you can extract the valuable copper for yourself—if you don’t, someone else will. Even smaller appliances like your old coffee maker can pay off with copper wiring inside.
